GIRLS EDUCATIONAL AND MENTORING SERVICES INC
Programs
Comprehensive Support Services for Young Women
IN 2023, WE SERVED 142 MEMBERS THROUGH OUR DIRECT SERVICES AND FACILITATED OVER 350 VIRTUAL GROUPS, INCLUDING FINANCIAL LITERACY, DEALING WITH INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE, SURVIVOR-SPECIFIC SUPPORT GROUPS, COLLEGE NOW SUPPORT GROUPS, ART, RESUME WRITING, PARENTING, CREATIVE WRITING, AND MORE. ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2023, WE SUCCESSFULLY REOPENED OUR DROP-IN CENTER TO GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN TWICE A WEEK. EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE MAINTAINED VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING BECAUSE OF ITS ACCESSIBILITY, THIS SPACE ALLOWS STAFF TO ENGAGE MORE DIRECTLY WITH THE GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN IN OUR PROGRAM, AND PROVIDES SAFETY, QUIET, AND COMMUNITY TO MEMBERS AND THEIR CHILDREN. WHEN THE DROP-IN CENTER IS OPEN, MEMBERS ARE PROVIDED HOT MEALS DONATED BY A LOCAL CHURCH AND PICK UP CLOTHING, HYGIENE ITEMS, DIAPERS AND WIPES, SCHOOL AND OFFICE SUPPLIES, PANTRY FOOD, AND SPECIALTY ITEMS AS NEEDED. LAST YEAR, WE WERE ABLE TO SUPPORT 61 MEMBERS THROUGH THE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM, INCLUDING RESUME WRITING, JOB READINESS TRAINING, CAREER GUIDANCE, EMPLOYMENT RETENTION SUPPORT, NAVIGATING RAISES, PROMOTION, AND OBTAINING NEW EMPLOYMENT. ALSO IN 2023, 46 MEMBERS PARTICIPATED IN THE EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE PROGRAM, INCLUDING YOUNG WOMEN ATTENDING THE COLLEGE NOW GROUP. GEMS ALSO PROVIDED HOUSING AND COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT SERVICES FOR 44 YOUNG WOMEN AND SIX INFANTS/CHILDREN THROUGH OUR RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM IN 2023, RESULTING IN 13 RESIDENTS AND THREE CHILDREN OBTAINING INDEPENDENT, PERMANENT HOUSING.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJul 1, 2022 – Jun 30, 2023Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$2.5MProgram 1 [2024]
GEMS' MISSION IS TO EMPOWER GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN, AGES 12-29, WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND DOMESTIC TRAFFICKING TO EXIT THE COMMERCIAL SEX INDUSTRY AND DEVELOP TO THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. GEMS IS COMMITTED TO ENDING COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND DOMESTIC TRAFFICKING BY CHANGING INDIVIDUAL LIVES, TRANSFORMING PUBLIC PERCEPTION, AND REVOLUTIONIZING THE SYSTEMS AND POLICIES THAT IMPACT COMMERCIALLY SEXUALLY EXPLOITED YOUTH. FOR 27 YEARS, GEMS HAS SUPPORTED AND EMPOWERED THOUSANDS OF GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN, WITH COMPREHENSIVE, HOLISTIC SERVICES, IN GAINING INDEPENDENCE, SAFETY, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN. GEMS HAS ALSO LED THE WAY IN RAISING NATIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE ISSUE, HELPED TO CREATE SERVICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SHIFTED THE FIELD AWAY FROM CRIMINALIZATION OF VICTIMS THROUGH ADVOCACY AND LEGISLATIVE CHANGE, AND CREATED THE SURVIVOR LEADERSHIP MOVEMENT THAT FOCUSES ON THE STRENGTH AND RESILIENCY OF SURVIVORS.GEMS WAS FOUNDED TO SERVE ONE OF THE MOST MARGINALIZED AND DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS; LOW-INCOME, GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN OF COLOR WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND DOMESTIC TRAFFICKING. THE VAST MAJORITY OF GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN GEMS SERVES EXPERIENCE SEVERE VICTIMIZATION EARLY IN LIFE THROUGH HIGH RATES OF PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PARTICULARLY SEXUAL ABUSE PRIOR TO THEIR RECRUITMENT INTO THE COMMERCIAL SEX INDUSTRY. NINETY-THREE PERCENT (93%) OF GEMS MEMBERS HAVE EXPERIENCED AT LEAST ONE FORM OF CHILDHOOD ABUSE, WHILE MANY EXPERIENCED ABUSE AND TRAUMA AS A CONSISTENT THREAD THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES. THIS IS COMPOUNDED BY THE TRAUMA AND VIOLENCE THEY EXPERIENCE OVER THE COURSE OF THEIR EXPLOITATION. IN OUR MOST RECENT ANALYSIS, 96% OF OUR MEMBERS WERE GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN OF COLOR, 79% OF MEMBERS HAVE BEEN UNDER THE CONTROL OF AN EXPLOITER AND 44% HAVE IDENTIFIED AS LGBTQ. GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN THEREFORE COME TO GEMS WITH MYRIAD, COMPLEX AND OFTEN IMMEDIATE, URGENT NEEDS AND ALSO REQUIRE A WIDE ARRAY OF ONGOING AND LONG TERM SERVICES.GEMS PROVIDES AN ARRAY OF SERVICES THAT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE COMPLEXITIES AND OBSTACLES IN OUR YOUNG WOMEN'S LIVES. SERVICES INCLUDE CRISIS CARE; CRISIS AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING; HOLISTIC CASE MANAGEMENT; COLLEGE PREP; EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING; THERAPEUTIC, PSYCHO-EDUCATIONAL, RECREATIONAL AND CREATIVE GROUPS; EMPLOYMENT READINESS; EMPLOYMENT RETENTION SUPPORT; DIRECT CASH ASSISTANCE; SUPPORT WITH PRACTICAL NEEDS LIKE FOOD AND CLOTHING; PEER COUNSELING; ADVOCACY AND SURVIVOR LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND OPPORTUNITIES. GEMS ALSO HAS MANY SUBPROGRAMS UNDER ITS MAJOR PROGRAM ACTIVITIES.GEMS SERVES OVER 150 GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMAN A YEAR AND HAS 20 RESIDENTIAL BEDS.GEMS RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMMING CURRENTLY OPERATES 2 SPECIFIC HOUSING PROGRAMS; TRANSITIONAL INDEPENDENT LIVING (TIL) - A 9 BED HOUSE FOR 16-20 YEAR OLDS FOR UP TO 18 MONTHS, AND IMANI PROGRAM, 3 SUPPORTIVE HOUSING APARTMENTS FOR 18-29 YEAR OLDS WHICH SERVE 11 YOUNG WOMEN IN TOTAL AND UP TO 4 CHILDREN.GEMS ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM COMPRISES OF OUR EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE (EL) AND PATHWAYS PROGRAMS WHICH WORK TOGETHER AS MEMBERS DEVELOP PROTECTIVE FACTORS (EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT AND LIVING WAGE EMPLOYMENT) WHICH REDUCE FURTHER POTENTIAL FOR VICTIMIZATION. TYING TOGETHER THESE TWO CORE PROGRAM IS OUR TRAUMA INFORMED, SURVIVOR LED FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAMMING DESIGNED TO SUPPORT YOUNG WOMEN IN BUILDING FINANCIAL STABILITY AND FREEDOM.THROUGH THE EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE (EL), OUR MEMBERS ARE ABLE TO OBTAIN THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR HSE (HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY) DIPLOMA WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS IN SUPPORTING SURVIVORS WHO TEND TO ALSO BE LOW INCOME, FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS SUSTAIN AND SUCCEED IN POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION.EL PROVIDES AN ARRAY OF TAILORED EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDING TUTORING, FINANCIAL INCENTIVES, SUPPORT GROUPS, AND SPECIFIC INITIATIVES LIKE COLLEGE PREP AND THE SUMMER INTENSIVE PROGRAM GEMS-U THAT ARE CULTIVATING A CULTURE OF EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS AND COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT.PATHWAYS PROGRAM SUPPORTS MEMBERS IN BUILDING MARKETABLE SKILLS AND OBTAINING AND RETAINING EMPLOYMENT. IN CONJUNCTION WITH EL, THIS PROGRAM WORKS TO MOVE MEMBERS FROM MINIMUM WAGE TO LIVING WAGE EMPLOYMENT AND BEYOND.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJul 1, 2023 – Jun 30, 2024Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$2.2M
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